Thursday, May 29, 2008

As you recall, it was a time of great famine in the time of Hansel and Gretel and the step mother persuaded the father to abandon the children in the woods so the wife and husband wouldn't starve.

So, the kids get lured in by the witch and eventually kill her. Then what? What do the kids do? Do they return home where the step mother is still living? Do they get Dad out from her influence? Do they move on? Do they open a witch extermination service? Do they get arrested for murder?

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Two months ago, the bakery hired a very cute cake master who is definitely not from around here. He or she crafts incredible cakes. Your character has finally worked up the nerve to ask him or her out. But the cake master has disappeared. The bakers are worried. They've known your character since she or he was a child and let her or him into the cake master's room above the bakery.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Thursday, May 22, 2008

A recent discussion on another list was about the "i before e except after c" rule and the words that break it. There are a whole series of "cien" words that break that rule. The challenge today is to use as many as you can in a writing piece. Feel free to use other forms.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Who has more products imprinted with their image: Kiss or Hello Kitty?

I don't think there's a Hello Kitty coffin but there is a Hello Kitty wedding dress. And your character has found it and it's perfect! Write about her. Who is she? Is she seriously in love with all things Hello Kitty or is it for kicks? What's her groom like? Does he think it's just as wonderful? What will the bridesmaids wear? Are they as enthusiastic?

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Colombo Yogurt (owned by General Mills but I'm guessing the brand is local to New England) is running a contest to rename their flavors to reflect their New England heritage. Each state (Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York) will get their own flavor names.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Two Chinese lovers are traveling to Europein a damp meadow.The smell of saffron fills the air;someone with horns approaches

Take it from there.

The idea was generated by "Writer's Idea Bank", which is a widget for a Google Homepage. I don't see anything at the website that allows you to generate more. You just need to install the widget on a Google homepage and refresh.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Thursday, May 08, 2008

Though you can see it from everywhere in the city, people won't speak of it and it's airbrushed from official photos. Set a story there.

(When you're done, if you want to see the tale of the real building, click the picture.)

(Edit: The month before this prompt was published, construction resumed -- after 16 years. The current (2012) picture at Wikipedia looks much different. Soon, perhaps 2013 -- though don't hold your breath! -- it will be just another big hotel hardly worth airbrushing out of photos.)

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Two childhood best friends: KaiKai is outgoing, Eilian reserved. They decide to form a group and bring in two others to round out their talents: Gan and Rio. (It can be any group you want: fighters for hire, monster slayers, fortune tellers, musicians, dancers, samurai, exterminators, party hosts ...) KaiKai and Eilian have eyes for talent and the two new members' talents overshadow the two founding members'.

Gan and KaiKai discover their talents mesh exceptionally well and form a tight partnership when they work together. Eilian prefers to hang back and work in the background, but is there jealousy rumbling beneath? After the group has been together for a while, it gets out that the other new member, Rio, is of a reviled faction (religion, race, planet, philosophy, culture, heritage ...) but he or she has such charisma those who hire them don't mind. (But will it last?)

They haven't had a job for a bit and are getting hungry for work (and for a substantial meal.) Tempers are short.

Write from the point of view of one of the members. Or from each in turn.